[Inzvestor]

I have just acquired a domain for a community site for a niche commodity with growing appeal and need to ensure that I am starting off with the right software in place.

There are 3 leading forum software choices;
vBulletin (£55 per year licence fee)
phpBB (free)
Invision Power Board (£75+ per year licence fee)

Can anyone convince me that I should choose phpBB or Invision Power Board over vBulletin?

I have had mod experience with vBull and phpBB in the past
From a back-end installation process which is easier?
I will be looking to add banner and skyscraper advertising but not looking to completely reskin the forum until sufficient traffic warrants this.

Comments as to which one is easiest to administer would be greatly appreciated.

[Jeewhizz]

vBulletin gets my vote. Any security issues are patched almost immediately. Their support team is fantastic.

You should also get VBSEO, which re-writes all teh URL's into nice search engine friendly ones.

And, you get the benefit of supporting a UK Industry. vB is based in Reading I believe

[Inzvestor]

Thanks Khalid

99% sure I will go down the vB route.

I'm now going through the motions of thinking about possible Mods and Admins for this site as the key to a great community is in it's leadership and policy structure.

VBSEO will be one of the first modifications or plugins added

[tommy]

vBulletin also gets my vote, so much better when it comes to security then the others.

[Inzvestor]

I've gone and done it. vBull purchased and installed.

Now comes the long hard slog of optimising it and testing before release.

Oh and a good skin will come in handy too.

[tommy]

just out of interest what is the forum going to be about?

or is it still a bit hush hush!!

[Inzvestor]

I'll start another thread about this later tonight once I have the wording correct (and a launch date in mind)